April 30, 2008 – Rudy Giuliani, Nancy Pelosi, John Kerry, Ted Kennedy and a host of other high profile politicians, actors, and social advocates need to clearly understand that the practice of Catholicism is a committed lifestyle of faithful and loving adherence to the Churchâ€™s regulations and teachings.

It is indeed the right time for that message to be reiterated to all of our priests, clergy and religious who proclaim in error that the Churchâ€™s moral and social declarations on the dignity of human life and the sanctity of marriage are merely subject to personal interpretation. Not so. This viewpoint represents a completely wrong understanding of the mission and message of the Catholic Churchâ€™s teaching.

The practice of Catholicism is a lifestyle to which we are called through the grace of the Sacraments of Initiation, and one, which we strive to perfect throughout our temporal lives. While the human person is flawed and fallible the Church in and through her ministry and Sacraments provide all Catholics subsistence and nourishment that assists us on our spiritual journey in life. At the same time, Catholicism is not a cafeteria religion, where you pick-up and choose which part of the theological and sacramental and moral teachings you feel are best for you and your family. I have heard it said many timesâ€¦â€The Cafeteria is Closed!â€ This message should clearly indicated to all of the Catholics out there that are infused with secular humanism & modernism that these beliefs are incompatible with a true understanding of the moral, ethical and social teachings of the Catholic Church.

The secular press reported the concern both Cardinal Egan and Archbishop Wuerl had about the reception of Holy Communion during the Popeâ€™s visit by politicians that were improperly disposed to receive the Sacrament. The USCCB jumped into the discussion and released a statement about the proper reception of Eucharist and of course, the whole discussion goes on in ad circulum argument.

Let us cut to the chase here.

When it comes to membership in the Church, either you accept the entire deposit of Catholic faith, or you do not. If you do not, simply put — you are not Catholic. If you have, dissenting views about birth control, abortion, the dignity of human life and so onâ€¦take it to another religion that supports your opinions of discord and dissent.

Moreover, if you donâ€™t believe in the sanctity of marriage, the permanence of character sacraments, the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, the infallibility of the Pope, the perpetual virginity of Mary, the duality of Jesusâ€™ nature, both human and divine, the Communion of Saints, our belief in resurrection from the dead, and all of the other points defined by the creed of Nicaeaâ€¦youâ€™re not Catholic either.

Our faith is founded upon beliefs that are immutable and not part of the art of compromise. While I am at itâ€¦.if you are in favor of a female clergy, join the Anglicans. If you want â€œgay rightsâ€, lesbian rights, transgendered rights or just the right to dissent openlyâ€¦join the Democrats. If you want to have a representative vote in any issue that the Church addressesâ€¦understand, our Church is not a working democracy.

When considering membership in our divinely instituted and absolute monarchial Church, also realize our message and purpose is to bring the teachings of Jesus Christ as proclaimed by the Apostles to a world of fragile peace and broken promises. We are a faithful community that is trying to make the world a holier place through our evangelical message and sacramental ministry. We are flawed as well.

The Catholic Church collectively has made its share of mistakes over the centuries, and we have admitted and recognized these errors. However, we stand for the development and stability of the natural family unit, advocated freedom of conscience and the fulfillment of human rights for all of our members. Throughout the world the Church, as an institution, provides medical care, food, shelter and other necessary resources for human comfort and sustenance. Additionally, the Church provides spiritual counseling and Eucharistic nourishment to over a billion people that need spiritual nourishment.

We advocate the causes of the poor and underprivileged. Through the diplomatic efforts of the Catholic Church, we are proponents of human rights and freedoms for all humankind in every part of the globe. We have no army, no navy or any other military instruments that are poised to harm the world and destroy the people of the world, and our message is one to bring about world peace and harmony.

If in fact, you want to belong to the Catholic organization and do not want to fully adhere to our beliefs and principlesâ€¦then please pray some more about the lifestyle commitment the Catholic Church represents. Honestly, we are not looking for perfect members, just members that are willing to work towards human perfection as part of the ongoing process of living a Catholic life. If the pursuit of perfection in a spiritual manner is not something you seek, call the Episcopalians, they have space for dissent based upon secular humanism.

4 users commented in " Catholic dissenters…call the Episcopalians! "

I don’t know which I resent the most anti-Episcopalian bigots or those who are ignorant about what we believe. I am so sick and tired of people denigrating my church I could scream. I don’t preface everything I write about the Catholic Church with a comment about pedophile priests, so why do anti-Episcopalian bigots continually point to a handful of truly disgusting individuals who have hijacked the public face of the Episcopal Church?

The average Episcopalian is just as decent, “Christian” and just as devoted to “Christ” as any other denomination. The worst of it, is most of us are basically treated like illegitimate children of the Catholic Church. We would love to be Catholic, but cannot stomach the fact that your church looks down on women and will not allow them into the priest-hood. If you allowed your priests to marry you might not have such a problem with gay priests. I hate to break it to you but they are all over the place. If the Catholic Church in the US follows the Pope’s edict about ejecting gay priests, you guys are going to come crawling to the Episcopal Church. It might help with the pedophile issue.

Contrary to what you have written, we treasure the Pope (most of us do). We long to be in communion with your church, but we just aren’t good enough. Funny how Christ allowed for imperfection in people, but the “Church” cannot.

We believe in the Holy Eucharist. We embrace the beliefs stated in the Nicean Creed and recite it every time we take HE. We believe in the confession and forgiveness of sin.

I’m a fairly new Episcopalian. I don’t claim to know everything that is going on. I do know that the rank and file, “normal” Episcopalians are just as decent, devout, and “catholic” as the official “Church”. There are a few bad apples in every group. I live about 35 miles from a Catholic parish where pedophile priests were shipped. Since it is New Mexico, we’re considered the end of the earth. The dozens of lives destroyed probably don’t matter, either. In the Episcopal church we are required to maintain a license, go through hours of training, and are subjected to an extensive back-ground check before working with children.

I know this is a cheap shot, but I’m sick and tired of having my church defiled and slandered because of the actions of a handful of people who do not represent the views of the rank and file church.

Maybe it’s time to start looking for the similarities and stop looking for the differences.

Thank you for your comments. However, your Church:
Has an invalid Eucharist, invalid Holy Orders as well as illicit Sacraments.
We require extensive background checks for all individuals working in any capacity in the Catholic Church, with required training.
Being homosexual and a pedophile are not directly related. All Catholics are called to a celibate and chaste lifestyle, except in the traditional sacrament of Marriage.
In all of my Catholic experiences I have never encountered an actively homosexual priest. If indeed your community of faith are so engaged by the Pope, then there is hope of salvation.
Traditional Episcopalians indeed have a comprehensive appreciation for the Catholic Church, however issues like transsubstantiation and consubstantiation as well as Papal Primacy are incorrectly held by your faith, as is the views on the ordination of women. With some prayer and penance, We Catholics pray that you will come around:)
HJMN

BrotherPhillip said,

in May 26th, 2008 at 4:48 pm

Mr. McNichol…
Though I appreciate you tenacity and courage, I am rather put off by your elitist attitude that you have decided to establish within yourself as a Roman Catholic. I have had many many MANY years of Catholic monastic experience and have seen the Church grow and backslide in those decades. In those years, two things I have discovered that turns people off more then anything to the Catholic Church is:

1. failure to dialogue (which requires listening)

2. and telling someone ‘We pray that you will come around’.

Chances are that SJ Reidhead will never ‘come around’ now. For as much as we know, SJ may remember your unencouraging words and never want to be a part of the Catholic family because of that. Where was the love and the humility of Christ needed in your response to SJ? As a ‘Catholic author’ I am sure it can become easy to push your own Catholic agenda. However, it is important, especially in this day and age, to ‘RESPOND’ to people rather then to ‘REACT’ to them. You were more quick to address and react to the fallacies of SJ’s faith then you were to patiently and lovingly respond to SJ in a way that SJ may have needed you to respond in order for him/her to grow in their faith and understanding of ours. Mr. McNichol, I say this respectfully as I am sure you feel called to be a writer and I do not want to discount your thoughts, feelings, and/ or personhood… You lack a certain pastoral element in your writings that is absolutely necessary for an unbelieving world to not only listen to you but also hear you. It is your ‘I’m right, you’re wrong’ mentality towards God that an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable. Please take my words into consideration. I only want to see the world begin to dialogue rather then argue or ignore. These are my thoughts. I respect yours. Go in peace 🙂

-Br. Phil OSB

Old_Army_Brat said,

in September 23rd, 2008 at 11:59 pm

Hugh,

What makes the Episcopal Eucharist invalid? A man called the Pope? What makes him infallible? Documents that were created by other men? Hugh, there was only one infallible man — Jesus the Christ. Can you show me in the Bible where Papal Primacy? I have looked and looked but cannot find it. I get apostolic secession from the Bible — “Peter upon this rock”. We of faith need to be focusing on what we have in common. Who cares about the wording on how the bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus. Going through Cursillo last fall, I learned that weather you call it ‘transubstantiation’ and ‘consubstantiation’ the actual event is called a mystery. Both concepts really have no Biblical basis, one from the Council of Trent (1545-63) and re-affirmed by the Second Vatican Council (1962). The other out of Martin Luther teaching but rejected by modern Lutheran Scholars. Most Episcopalians would not know either term as they are not taught in our Confirmation Classes.

My core believes include:
1) Jesus the Christ died and was resurrected for all of our sins — past, present and future. There is nothing that I can do to take that away as it is there by the grace of God.

2) Eucharist or Holy Communion was established by Jesus the Christ for all. It is His table not the Roman Catholics, not the Eastern Church, and certainly not the Episcopalians. I believe by some mystery that the bread and wine become the body and blood but do not condemn those that don’t believe this way.

3) No man alive today is infallible. This is probably the main reason that I am not Roman Catholic.

4) That there is a place in the church for ordination of women — The resurrection of the Messiah was discovered by women. Jesus treated women is equals — all in the New Testament.

5) The sacrament of marriage is for all, none must and some should. Multiple wives are a norm in Biblical times. The Bible has at least 3 stories of same sex relationships — look up David and Jonathan for instance…

6)that all Holy Orders are invalid. Before you hang me — The Holy Orders of Today in the Roman Catholic tradition are not much more the denominations within the Roman Catholic Church. All original from the Desert Fathers. The Eastern Church still maintains the monastic life the same way that the desert fathers did, no orders and no rules. That being said right now I am setting in a Benedictine Archabbey right now. I do believe in the work that do but they are invalid by the early church’s definition. Times change and things have to change with them.

7) That the Nicene Creed is significant statement of faith.

8) Jesus the Christ came to establish “God’s Kingdom” right now and right here on earth. He did not come to give us new information on God and He didn’t come to give us new set of sexual morals. The “Kingdom of God” is the number one thing that Jesus preached about and next and how we treat each other is reflective on how we ultimately treat God.

Jesus prayed for the unity of His People but it seems that we split over minor issues like the mystery of the how the bread and the cup are transformed in the his body and blood or even if they are His body and blood more evidence in the bible to the this — “do this in remembrance of me” doesn’t say anything about change into His body and blood. We have failed in one of Jesus the Christ prayers — that his people remain on body. I have seen churches split over minor issues.

Your statement in you comments to SJ do nothing but drive another wedge into the split church by driving more distance between those that might come back or return or even come to Roman.

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